Orlando Stadium
Orlando Pirates 0
Cape Town City 0
Orlando Stadium - Mushin Ertugral has been subtle in stamping his authority at Pirates, slowly bringing his ideas and changing the way the club plays. But on Tuesday night he dropped the subtleness by excluding Edwin Gyimah from the match-day 18 after his bust-up with the coach at the Cape Town airport.
The Ghanaian hardman was already skating on thin ice as the coach argued that he hoofs the ball forward too much when he gets it, forcing the team to defend just after gaining possession. It hinted that Gyimah along with Ayanda Gcaba and Issa Sarr would struggle for game time under him. But he gave them a chance in his first three matches in charge. On Tuesday night only Sarr survived... only for 45 minutes, with Luvuyo Memela coming in his place at the start of the second half. Happy Jele – despite slowing down, another thing that Ertugral set out to fix at the club by bringing fresh legs at the back – celebrated his 10th year anniversary at Pirates with a torrid time from City attackers who won almost every aerial ball in the box.
A decade ago, to the day, a 19-year-old Jele made his Buccaneers debut against Maritzburg United at right back – 10 years later he slotted at centreback. He brought experience, easing pressure from the green Justice Chabalala. The two centrebacks worked overtime because City bullied their way past the Pirates midfield, more so when Sarr wasn’t there.
But the Mother City club didn’t make it count, with Judas Moseamedi coming up with a treason of a miss with just the goalkeeper to beat after his teammates spliced open Pirates. Brighton Mhlongo made a comfortable save and then went to make a brilliant clearance when Lebogang Manyama came knocking. If it wasn’t for Mhlongo, City would have comfortable won this match as he made save after save to cement his place as Pirates’ No. 1.
The visitors were motivated against Pirates, led by Eric Tinkler who used to coach the Sea Robbers. The core of Tinkler’s players were up against their former coach Ertugral who managed them at Mpumalanga Black Aces last season. Defensively City were organised while they were swift when they went forward. They outplayed Pirates.
But Tinkler should be worried with this display because City seems to be saving their best for the big teams after they stunned Kaizer Chiefs in the opening match of the MTN8. After that they looked pedestrian against Bidvest Wits over two legs and Golden Arrows.
It was such a dominant display that Shu-Aib Walters was on holiday, able to go as forward as the centreline. City pinned the Buccaneers back, leaving both coaches frustrated but for different reasons. Ertugral was incensed by their timid display that threatened to see the coach lose his voice because of how often he had to shout. Tinkler, who even threw away his notebook in disgust, was frustrated by the chances City missed with Pirates there for the taking. The Capetonians would have taken a point if you had asked them before the match, but when three points were there for the taking they let themselves down.
It was a wake-up call that Pirates needed. Despite their good start, beating Arrows and Ajax Cape Town, there were cracks there which showed that they aren’t a finished product just yet. But when you’re winning, there isn’t much time to reflect. They need to do that this week before they return to the venue of their only defeat this season, Milpark, where they will take on Bidvest Wits on Saturday.
@extrastrongsa
Independent Media